The Ensemble Theatre Lights Up the Holidays with “Soulful Sounds of Christmas”

HOUSTON (November 1, 2017) – The Ensemble Theatre lights up the holidays with the musical Soulful Sounds of Christmas, book, music and lyrics by Chika Kaba Ma'atunde, based on a concept and title by Greg Williams, Jr, and directed and choreographed by Patdro Harris; Opening Night Media Reception Thursday, November 16, 2017, 6:30 p.m.

“I wanted to write something that inspired us to celebrate our shared humanity,” says Williams “When I wrote this play we’d experienced a flood of our own in Louisiana, and with everyone so scattered I wanted to bring a feeling of togetherness.”

A Christmas miracle adventure connects a community and gets everyone into the holiday spirit. Infused with original new songs, this play tells the story of Ella Washington, owner of a family soul food restaurant in Florida whose motto is “when you give to others, it comes back to you.” Soulful Sounds of Christmas is a heart-warming story that shines light on family, the art of giving and love as the TRUE meaning of Christmas.

”I want audiences to laugh; I want them to escape and enjoy live theatre; and I want them to leave feeling they want to pay-it-forward in some way,” says Williams.

The Ensemble Theatre was founded in 1976 by the late George Hawkins to preserve African American artistic expression and enlighten, entertain and enrich a diverse community. In addition to being the oldest and largest professional African American theatre in the Southwest, it also holds the distinction of being one of the nation's largest African American theatres that owns and operates its facility with an in-house production team.

The Ensemble Theatre produces a main stage season of six contemporary and classic works devoted to the portrayal of the African American experience by local and national playwrights and artists. The theatre’s Performing Arts Education program provides educational workshops, Artist-in-Residence experiences and live performances for students both off-site and at the theatre; and the Young Performers Program offers intensive summer training for children ages 6 to 17 encompassing instruction in all disciplines of the theatre arts.